Lake Wales Student Arrested In McDonalds Assault

Lake Wales, Florida – Lake Wales Police developed new witnesses in the February 22, 2011, near shooting at McDonald’s. Witnesses told detectives that on the night of the incident Joshua Murphy was in a verbal argument with people in the parking lot of McDonald’s. Joshua Murphy was attempting to drive away and as the argument continued a juvenile jumped on Murphy’s vehicle. Joshua Murphy told the juvenile to get off of his vehicle and the juvenile complied. Joshua Murphy then told the juvenile to come back to his vehicle so he could speak with him. When the juvenile walked up to the vehicle Joshua Murphy pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the juvenile’s head. Witnesses reported Joshua Murphy then lowered the handgun and hit the juvenile in the nose. At this point the witnesses stated gun shots were heard and people left the area. Joshua Murphy did not fire the handgun; the shots came from another juvenile who was arrested the same night of the incident.

On March 1, 2011, Joshua Murphy went to the police department to be interviewed. Based on the information received by police Joshua Murphy, 18 years old of Lake Wales, was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on the charges of Aggravated Assault and Simple Battery.